Snowtober

Well I am back from a wonderful trip to Churchill where there was no snow to a winter storm here in PA. We are due to get 4 - 8 feet, crazy.
It was really nice to have experienced seeing the Polar Bears with my Mother. It's been a long time since we have travel together and we really had a great time with many laughs, and lots of stories. Thanks Mom for inviting me along, it really was a special trip.
   
  Now its time to swap out all these winter cloths for some flip flops and sundresses. We are off to Cabo San Lucas for some fishing, golf, sun, and tequila.

Dog Sledding with Wapusk Adventures

One of the highlights of our trip was going dog sledding. One of my favorite race's to watch is the Iditarod. So when I found out that Dave Daley, the owner actually races it made the experience even better. When we first got there he told us about the his program and the different race's he has been in. He is working on being qualified for the 2013 Iditarod, which I found very cool.

The town of The Churchill Manitoba Canada

 The town of Churchill is located on the edge of the Hudson Bay at the mouth of the Churchill River.
The only way to get to Churchill is either by plane or by train. This makes it a pretty isolated place.

Hudson Bay

Churchill River

It is between the tundra of the north and the boreal forest to the south.

Playful Bears

Close Encounters with a Polar Bear

It was really amazing to be this close to a polar bear. He looked so cute it was hard not to want to just reach down and pet his nose. Of course I did not, as cute as this bear appears it is still a wild animal.

Out on the Tundra

This morning we went out on the Tundra for another full day of sighting bears. It was sunny and 25 F. The guide took us over the same trails in hopes that we would see the same two bears that entertained us yesterday, but that did not happen. After an hour of driving over rough terrain we spotted a very large bear. He was a good distance away but with binoculars and cameras we had a good view of him. He was stretched out on top of a pile of kelp and eating it. Every so often he would shift his body around until he made a full circle

Quest for the Polar Bear

The sun is shining, very little snow, & temperature 25f which is very comfortable for us but for the Polar Bears this is not a good thing. This time of year temperatures should be as low as -10 with snow. The polar bears need these cold temperatures so the Hudson Bay freezes allowing them to be able to hunt seals to eat. The changing climate is causing a longer period of time that the Polar Bears go without food. The ice is melting earlier in the spring & freezing later each year. This is bad news for the bear population.
What can we do to help the bears? Help decrease our carbon output.
The ones we have seen thankfully are looking healthy. 

Curious Bear

 

Smile pretty

Time to check the oil

Bear Paws

                                                                   Very large paws!

Quest For the Lords of the Artic

A great day out on the Tundra. This is our first day aboard the tundra buggy and what a spectacular day it is. Our morning started with a beautiful sunrise over the Hudson Bay. The temperature is cold 23f but no wind making viewing from the outside platform very comfortable. Our first sighting of the day was a Gyrfalcon. It is the largest and most northerly of North American falcons.

Next we watched a group of Willow Ptarmigans running about. 

An hour into our journey we spotted what we came all these miles for 2 Polar bears napping in the morning sun. 
Once our buggy stopped it got them curious to come over & check us out. For the next hour the 2 entertained us, coming up to the side of the buggy, going  underneath the grated  platform, & providing everyone with some great photos. 

We are guessing they are about 3 years old, one male & the other female, possibly siblings. 
It was amazing watching them. They appear so gentle. One was fascinated by the light under the  buggy platform and spent some time licking it & trying to remove it.

There were 3 other buggys parked and the bears checked out each one. 
They sat under the platforms, stood up to the windows, checked the tires and finally laid down. 

Working at the light under the buggy

Then all of a sudden they were done with us & moved towards the willows out of site. 

 Along the trail some distance from where we first saw them we spotted them again this time playing. 

 Before lunch we saw a good size Polar Bear taking a nap in the willows. 

 
  Lunch is served on board catered by the Gypsy Bakery. It was very good.

In the afternoon we saw a bear lying on a rock eating kelp.

 As we were heading back to the tundra station we spotted 2 bears up in on the rocks. We stopped to take pictures and they decided to walk down to check us out. Our guide thought they were the same bears as the morning. This time one of them spent considerable time under the platform. He was smelling every one's boots, especially Jill's. 

He actually raised up and put his paws up. After that excitement he wondered over to the side of the buggy and was licking the drain from the sink that had hot chocolate in it. 

Drinking Hot Chocolate from the drain

Someone whose name shall not be revealed,  had emptied her cup in the sink. (guide did not tell us that only water should go in the sink)  He sure did enjoy it as it was all over his nose. 

They certainly seemed to like their pictures taken. We had to leave so they wondered off across the tundra. Hope to see them again tomorrow.

Lazy Bear Lodge Churchill Canada

Here we are finally in Churchill Canada.  The flight took just under 3 hours to get here. Once here it was a quick bus ride to town & our hotel.

 We are staying at the Lazy Bear Lodge which is really a unique place. The entire lodge was built by hand by the owner Wally Daudrich using logs from a forest fire. Now that's recycling.

Nice crisp day here in Winnipeg. We have several hours before our departure to Churchill.
The day started with a wonderful breakfast at the hotel. We had eggs Benedict with fresh craved Canadian bacon which was really good.
We walked the city some & tried to find free wifi. It's amazing when you are looking for it nothing is around. We found a Starbucks & their server wasn't working. Oh well guess all the posts will go on at once.
Last night we met the group we will be traveling with to Churchill. It is all couples other than Mom & me We have 8 couples from England, 1 from Wales, 5 from Canada, a couple from Tasmania Australia, New Mexico, & us.
Time to board the plane for Churchill.
Sent from my iPad

Our Adventure has begun

After a beautiful and uneventful day of flying we have arrived at our first stop of the trip, Winnipeg Canada.

  We are staying at The Fort Garry Hotel right in the heart of downtown Winnipeg. The hotel is beautiful and reflects the era it was built in, 1911. The hotel  was built by The Grand Truck Pacific Railway. 

   After we settled in we went in search of a must needed meal.  Airport & plane food  never do the trick.

   The Forks is a gathering spot which has restaurants, shopping, a river way and only a 5 minute walk  from the hotel   That seemed to be a good place to start. We found a wonderful restaurant in The Inn at Forks, called The Current.

  It served a local special panko crusted pickerel cheeks. What are pickerel cheeks? Well we asked the same thing. Pickerel is a fish here in Manitoba & cheeks is its soft white meat. We had to try it and it was delicious. 

  Tonight we have a meet & greet with our tour group followed by sleep. Our excitement for the trip kept us up most if the night combined with a 5:20am departure makes for 2 tired girls. 

  

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Sunshine

Enjoying a beautiful beach day in Long Beach Island NJ before departing for the cold & snow. Yes, it has started to snow seem in Churchill. Hooray!!

Wishing for cold temperatures & Snow

With my upcoming trip to Churchill, Manitoba Canada getting closer, I have been keeping track of the weather there. So far it’s been a bit warmer than usual for this time of year and rainy. This is not a good thing for hungry Polar bears or for us wanting to see them. 

For the first time ever I am wishing for temperatures below freezing and a good snow storm to hit Churchill to get the bears moving to the Hudson Bay.  The forecast seems to be changing just a bit with some snow and temperatures around freezing.   

I am keeping my fingers cross.  

Polar Bears

Getting all packed & ready.